DANVERS — It was easy to feel the love Danvers has for Chris “Ducky” Anderson during a walk downtown Saturday morning.
A crowd of people made their way from Danvers Town Hall to Plains Park with messages of support for Anderson, a Danvers resident with special needs who was assaulted by a group of teenage boys in Plains Park on Oct. 12. Anderson himself stopped downtown Saturday and was cheered on by those showing support.
Meanwhile, Danvers police arrested a 15-year-old boy on Friday in connection with the attack, charging him with multiple counts of assault and battery.
“(Ducky) is the nicest human being,” said Beverly resident Brian Cotting, who organized Saturday’s event. “If he sees a stranger, he’s going to have a huge smile on his face and say, ‘Hey buddy.’ That’s just him.”
Cotting has known Anderson since they were students at North Shore Technical High School in the early 2000s and said he was devastated to hear about the attack.
“I’m doing this for Chris’ emotional support and to support his family,” Cotting said.
Cotting collected notes of support for Anderson during Saturday’s event. Danvers resident Leah Barnes has also collected hundreds of cards and gifts for Anderson since the incident.
They can be dropped off at Putnam Pantry through Saturday, Oct. 26, she said.
“It’s probably going to take him weeks to go through everything we’ve gotten,” Barnes said.
Anderson’s attack hit Barnes close to home. Not only is Anderson a close friend of her uncle, she also has a child with special needs.
“We want to let him know that there are more good people in the world than bad,” Barnes said. “It never should have happened to him and the whole community is here supporting him.”
These haven’t been the only ways Danvers has rallied around Anderson.
The hashtag #imwithducky and the phrase “Defend Ducky” are circulating local Facebook pages. The Fire Department visited Anderson last week. Twisted Fate Brewery is donating 10% of its proceeds Monday night to him and his family and multiple businesses are displaying blue pumpkins to show support.
Residents also spoke at a Select Board meeting last week calling for justice in the incident.
“We’re here for Chris,” Cotting said.
Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com.